Window regulator

ABSTRACT

A vehicle window regulator assembly includes a tubular guide fixed to the vehicle body and a lift arm pivotally mounted on the vehicle body and attached to a window panel and operable to move the window panel between raised and lowered positions. A guide follower unit grips the tubular guide at two vertically spaced locations and is connected to the window panel through a telescopeable connection permitting the guide follower unit to extend down below the lower edge of the window panel in the raised position of the latter to increase the lateral stability thereof while assuming a position generally above the lower edge of the window panel in the lowered position of the latter to permit increased downward movement of the window panel.

United States Patent [72] lnventor WayneE.Nantau Fraser, Mich. [21]Appl. No 22,190 (22] Filed Mar. 24, 1970 [45] Patented [73] AssigneeJuly 13. 197 1 General Motors Corporation Detroit, Mich.

[541 WINDOW REGULATOR l 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 49/227, 49/350, 49/375 [51] Int. Cl E05! 11/52 [50] Field ofSearch 49/227,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,671,433 5/1928 McAdam49/227 X 2,565,232 8/1951 Hezler, Jr. 49/350 3,062,528 11/1962 Martens3,413,760 12/1968 Gorysetal Primary Examiner- Kenneth DowneyAttorneys-W. E. Finken and D. L. Ellis ABSTRACT: A vehicle windowregulator assembly includes a tubular guide fixed to the vehicle bodyand a lift arm pivotally mounted on the vehicle body and attached to awindow pane] and operable to move the window panel between raised andlowered positions. A guide follower unit grips the tubular guide at twovertically spaced locations and is connected to the window panel througha telescopeable connection permitting the guide follower unit to extenddown below the lower edge of the window panel in the raised position ofthe latter to increase the lateral stability thereof while assuming aposition generally above the lower edge of the window panel in thelowered position of the latter to permit increased downward movement ofthe window panel.

PATENTED JUL] 3197i SHEET 1 OF 2 Wag W gwam 4/6440 ATTORNEY PATENTEDJUL] 3197i SHEET 2 BF 2,

ATTORNEY WINDOW REGULATOR This invention relates generally to vehiclewindow regulators and in particular to an improved window panel guidingarrangement. The trend in modern automotive design has been to increasethe vertical dimension of the vehicle window openings for greatervisibility while simultaneously maintaining or lowering the overallheight of the vehicle above the ground. The design limitation on thistrend is, of course, the vertical dimension of the movable window panel,such as a typical front door window, dictated by the vertical space inthe vehicle body below the window opening in which space the windowpanel is to be stowed in the lowered position. Typical window regulatorassemblies designed to facilitate the maximum utility of storage space,and at the same time provide adequate movement, guidance and stabilitycharacteristics to the window panel, have included expensive andcomplicated folding linkage arrangements which are difficult to installand adjust.

In a window regulator assembly according to this invention a singletubular guide fixed to the vehicle body functions through a guidefollower unit to guide the window panel during movement between raisedand lowered positions. In the raised position of the window panel thefollower unit assumes an extended position projecting substantiallybelow the lower edge of the window panel to increase the lateralstability of the window panel. In the lowered position of the windowpanel within the body storage space the follower unit assumes aretracted position wherein there is substantially no projection belowthe lower edge of the window panel so that the latter may be broughtinto close proximity to the lower boundary of the storage space formaximum space utilization.

A primary feature, then, of this invention is that it provides animproved window regulator assembly. Another feature of this invention isthat it provides a window regulator assembly wherein a single guidemember, through a guide follower unit moving axially therealong, guidesa window panel during raising and lowering movement with the guidefollower unit, in turn, being telescopeable relative to the windowpanel. Still another feature of this invention resides in the provisionof a guide follower unit which, while being telescopeable relative tothe window panel and guide member, is also pivotable relative to theguide member to facilitate the use of curved window panels. These andother features of this invention will be readily apparent from thefollowing specification and from the drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a fragmentary partially broken away side elevational view ofan automobile type vehicle having a window regulator assembly accordingto this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged yiew ofa portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the planeindicated by lines 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the planeindicated by lines 4-4 in FIG. 2 and showing the window panel and guidefollower unit in raised and extended and lowered and retracted positionsin solid and broken lines, respectively;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the planeindicated by lines 5-5 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the planeindicated by lines 6-6 in FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a hard-top coupe automobilevehicle body generally designated 10 includes a roof structure 12, aquarter panel structure 14 and a front fender panel 16. The forwardportion of roof structure 12 is supported by a pair of pillars whichalso retain a windshield 20, only pillar 21 being shown in FIG. 1. Theroof structure, in combination with the quarter panel, fender panel andpillar defines a door opening within which a door, generally designated22, is conventionally vertically hinged at its forward edge on thevehicle body 10 for swinging movement between an open position, notshown, and a closed position, as shown. In the closed position of thedoor, a portion of the door opening is selectively closed by a windowpanel 24 mounted on the door in a manner to be described for movementbetween a raised position, FIG. 1, and a lowered position, shown inbroken lines in FIG. 4, stowed generally within the door. A windowregulator assembly according to this invention and generally designated26 is mounted on the door and is selectively operable to move the windowpanel between the raised and lowered positions.

With particular reference now to FIGS. 1 and 4, the door 22 includes aformed outer panel 28 and an inner panel 30 having a flange 32 extendingaround the vertical and bottom margins thereof. The outer panel 28 isfixedly secured by conventional means, as by welding, to the flange 32so as to provide a window storage area between the inner and outerpanels. At the vehicle belt line or upper edge of the door 22 a gapbetween the outer panel 28 and the inner panel 30 provides an elongatedaccess opening 34, seen best in FIG. 4, extending generally the entirelength of the door.

As best seen in FIG. 4, a guide member in the form of a curved tube 36has a pair of brackets 38 and 40 fixedly secured to the ends thereof.Bracket 38 is fixedly secured by conventional means, as by welding, tothe inside surface of the inner panel 30 at the top of the door andbracket 40 is fixedly secured by threaded fasteners 44 to a stiffenerpanel 46 of the door. The guide member 36 generally follows thecurvature or tumble home of the door in transverse section, FIG. 4, andassumes a generally vertical orientation in side elevation, FIGS. 1 and2, for a generally vertical window motion path.

Adjacent access opening 34 and at opposite sides thereof stabilizingmeans are provided in the form of flexible sealing strips 48 and 50fabricated from a resilient material, such as rubber, and adapted tobear slidably but firmly against the opposite surfaces of window panel24. The seals 48 and 50 normally close the access opening 34 but areseparable upon insertion of window panel 24 into the latter andthereafter provide generally weather tight closure to prevent entry offoreign material into the storage space of the door between the innerand outer panels. A sash plate 52, seen best in FIG. 2, is fixedlysecured to the lower edge portion of the window panel 24 generallycentrally thereof by conventional fasteners 53 and has afi'lxed theretoby conventional means, as by welding, a track segment 54, FIGS. 4 and 6.

The track segment 54 is of channel cross section and has secured thereina pair of nylon bearing strips 56 and slidably or telescopeably receivessecondary guide means in the form of a bar 58 forming part of a guidefollower unit generally designated 59, FIG. 4. The guide follower unitfurther includes an adjusting plate 60 having a pair of elongatedapertures 62 therein, FIG. 5, which adjusting plate is fixedly securedto the lower end of bar 58, as by welding, and extends generallyperpendicularly thereto, FIG. 4. A pair of threaded fasteners 64 extenddown through the elongated apertures 62 and adjustably secure a collarmounting plate 66 to the adjusting plate 60. The collar mounting plate66 rigidly carries a first collar 68 fabricated from a conventional lowfriction material, such as nylon. Collar 68 has a generally squareaperture 70 extending therethrough the sides of which have a convexgenerally spherical curvature, FIGS. 4 and 5. The collar slidablyreceives therethrough the guide member 36 with the convex sides of theformer contacting the latter at four angularly spaced locations, FIG. 5,so that the collar along with the plates 66 and 60 and the bar 58 arelimitedly pivotable relative to the guide member 36 about horizontalaxes extending through the collar generally longitudinally of the door,in addition to being axially slidable along the guide member.

A second collar 72, also fabricated from a low friction material such asnylon, is fixedly secured to the bar 58 generally at the upper endthereof by a screw 74, best seen in FIG. 6. The second collar 72 has agenerally elongated aperture or slot 76 extending therethrough of widthgenerally equal to the outer diameter of guide member 36 and generallyaxially aligned with and above square aperture 70 in the first collar68. The second collar 72 slidably receives the guide member 36 and, inaddition, is bodily shiftable relative to the latter over the length ofslot 76 transversely of the door 22.

The guide follower unit, then, including the bar 58 and the first andsecond collars 68 and 72, is slidable axially along the guide member 36between a raised position and a lowered position shown respectively insolid and broken lines in FIG. 4. The guide follower unit is slidable intrack segment 54 relative to the window panel 24 between an extendedposition and a retracted position, shown respectively in solid andbroken lines in FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the sash plate 52 has a cam channel82 welded thereto in generally horizontal orientation which cam channelreceives a roller 84 rotatably supported on a rivet 86 fixedly securedto the distal end of a window regulator lift arm 88. Lift arm 88 has atoothed sector 90 fixedly secured thereto and both the lift arm andsector are pivotally mounted at 91 on a mounting brace 92 fixedlysecured to the door inner panel. The lift arm 88 is actuable between theraised and lowered positions of window panel 24 by a conventionalreversible electric motor 94 through a pinion 96 meshing with the teethon sector 90.

Assume now a typical operational sequence of the window regulatorassembly beginning with the window panel 24 and lift arm 88 in raisedposition, wherein the guide follower unit 59 is in the extendeddepending position relative to the window panel and is disposed at thevery top of the guide member 36, FIG. 4. So positioned, the guidefollower unit cooperates with the seal members 48 and 50 at the beltline of the door to laterally stabilize the window panel. Moreparticularly, the seal members 48 and 50 relatively firmly grip thewindow panel at the belt line of the door to prevent any substantiallateral movement of the part of the window panel immediately adjacentthereto. The first collar 68 which is laterally immovable relative tothe guide member 36 and door 22 is rigidly attached to the sash platethrough the bar 58 so that the lower edge of the window panel isrestrained against transverse movement relative to the door. With twosubstantially vertically spaced points thereon thus restrained, thewindow panel is stabilized in the raised position against deflectionlaterally of the vehicle body.

When it is desired to bring the window panel from the raised to thelowered position the motor 94 is energized through a conventionalvehicle electrical circuit to pivot the lift arm clockwise, FIG. 4,causing the roller 84 to initiate downward movement of the window panel.A light frictional fit between the track segment 54 and the bar 58causes the guide follower unit to move unitarily downward with thewindow panel and sash plate along the guide member 36. With the centralpor' tion of the window panel passing downward through the stationaryaccess aperture 34 while the lower end generally follows the curvatureof the guide member 36 through the first collar 68, the window panelexperiences limited pivotal movement relative to the guide member whichpivotal movement is accommodated by the transverse slot 76 in the secondcollar 72. The follower unit is, however, effectively restrained againstmovement longitudinally of the door relative to the guide member so thatas the follower unit moves downwardly along the guide member the windowpanel is restrained against such longitudinal movement and follows avertical path of motion dictated by the generally vertical orientationof the guide member.

Substantially unitary downward movement of the window panel and guidefollower unit continues until the first collar 68 engages a fixed stop98 on the lower end of guide member 36. Subsequent continued clockwiseor lowering rotation of the left arm and lowering movement of the windowpanel causes telescoping movement of the follower unit from itsdepending extended position relative to the window panel to the liftedor retracted position. During such telescoping relative movement the bar58 functions to guide or control the longitudinal posi-/ tion of thewindow panel relative to the door. When the lower edge of the windowpanel 24 reaches generally coplanar relationship with first collar 68conventional limit switch means,

not shown, may be employed to automatically deenergize the motor 94 tohalt lowering rotation of the lift arm 88. Alternatively, another stopmember may be affixed to the lower end of bar 58 to engage track 54 andhalt lowering movement of the panel.

The fully lowered window panel, shown in broken lines in FIG. 4, withthe guide follower unit in the retracted position, is completely stowedwithin the door 22 thus fully removing the window panel from the areaabove the door 22. By automatically moving the guide follower unit fromthe extended to the retracted position virtually no window storage spaceis wasted. More particularly, in the raised position of the window panelonly a small portion thereof projects below the belt line of the doorwith the extended guide follower unit however, substantially projectingbelow the belt line and lower margin of the window panel to providesatisfactory lateral stability. In the lowered position of the windowpanel the guide follower unit is retracted allowing the lower edge ofthe former to be brought into close proximity to the bottom of the door.The lower edge of the window, being close to the belt line of the doorand to the bottom thereof in the raised and lowered positions of thewindow panel, respectively, thus permits maximum utilization of thestorage space within the door.

To return the window panel 24 to the raised position, the motor 94 isenergized to rotate the lift arm counterclockwise, FIGS. 1 an 2, causingthe roller 84 to move the window panel upwardly. The guide followerunit, due to the frictional engagement between the bracket 58 and tracksegment 54, moves unitarily upward with the window pane] in theretracted position until the second collar contacts a stop portion 99 ofbracket 38. Subsequent continued clockwise or raising movement of thelift arm 88 and raising movement of the window panel causes relativetelescoping movement of the guide follower unit from the retracted backto the extended depending position thereof relative to the window paneluntil window panel movement is halted by engagement thereof with roofstructure 12, by limit switches, or otherwise.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In a vehicle body having a window opening therein, the combination ofa window panel, guide means fixedly secured to said vehicle body anddefining a window panel motion path, a guide follower unit, meansmounting said guide follower unit on said guide means for movement insaid motion path defined thereby, means mounting said window panel onsaid guide follower unit for unitary movement therewith and for movementrelative thereto between an extended position of said follower unitprojecting substantially beyond one margin of said window panel and aretracted position of said follower unit in generally flush relationshipwith said one margin, said guide means upon unitary movement of saidwindow panel and guide follower unit cooperating with the latter toguide said window panel in said motion path between a'raised positionclosing said window opening and a lowered position opening said windowopening, window regulator means on said vehicle body selectivelyoperable to move said window panel between said raised and said loweredpositions, and stabilizing means on said vehicle body generally at onemargin of said window opening engageable with said window panel toprevent substantial lateral movement of that part of said window panelimmediately adjacent thereto, said guide follower unit in said extendedposition thereof and in said raised position of said window panelprojecting substantially beyond said one window margin and insubstantially spaced relationship to said stabilizing means, said windowpanel thereby being laterally restrained at spaced locations to impartlateral stability thereto.

2. In a vehicle body having a window opening therein, the combination ofa window panel, a guide member fixedly secured to said vehicle body anddefining a first window panel motion path, a guide follower unit havingsecondary guide means thereon, means mounting said guide follower uniton said guide member for movement in said first motion path definedthereby, said secondary guide means with said guide follower unitmounted on said guide member defining a second window panel motion path,means on said window panel engageable on said secondary guide means tomount said window panel on said follower unit for unitary movementtherewith and for telescoping movement relative thereto between anextended position of said follower unit projecting substantially beyondone margin of said window panel and a retracted position of saidfollower unit in generally flush relationship with said one margin, saidguide member upon unitary movement of said window panel and guidefollower unit cooperating with the latter to guide said window panel insaid first motion path between a raised position closing said windowopening and a lowered position opening said window opening, saidsecondary guide means upon telescoping movement of said window pane]relative to said guide follower unit guiding said window panel in saidsecond motion path, window regulator means on said vehicle bodyselectively operable to move said window panel between said raised andsaid lowered positions, and stabilizing means on said vehicle bodygenerally at one margin of said window opening engageable with saidwindow panel to prevent substantial lateral movement of that part ofsaid window panel immediately adjacent thereto, said guide follower unitin said extended position thereof and in said raised position of saidwindow panel projecting substantially beyond said one window margin andin substantially spaced relationship to said stabilizing means, saidwindow panel thereby being laterally restrained at substantially spacedlocations to impart lateral stability thereto.

3. In a vehicle body having a window opening therein, the combination ofa window panel, a guide member fixedly secured to said vehicle body anddefining a first window panel motion path, a guide follower unitincluding a bar having a pair of generally axially aligned collarssecured thereto, each of said collars being slidably engageable on saidguide member to mount said follower unit on said guide member for movement in said first motion path, said bar with said guide follower unitmounted on said guide member defining a second window panel motion path,means on said window panel cooperable with said bar to mount said windowpanel on said follower unit for unitary movement therewith and fortelescoping movement relative thereto between an extended position ofsaid follower unit projecting substantially beyond the margin of saidwindow pane] and a retracted position of said follower unit in generallyflush relationship with said one margin, said guide member upon unitarymovement of said window panel and guide follower unit cooperating withthe latter to guide said window panel in said first motion path betweena raised position closing said window opening and a lowered positionopening said window opening, said bar upon telescoping movement of saidwindow panel relative to said guide follower unit guiding said windowpane] in said second motion path, window regulator means on said vehiclebody selectively operable to move said window panel between said raisedand said lowered positions, and stabilizing means on said vehicle bodygenerally at one margin of said window opening engageable with saidwindow panel to prevent substantial lateral movement of that part ofsaid window panel immediately adjacent thereto, one collar of said pairof collars in said extended position of said guide follower unit and insaid raised position of said window panel being situated substantiallybeyond said one window panel margin and in substantially spacedrelationship to said stabilizing means, said window panel thereby beinglaterally restrained at two spaced locations to impart lateral stabilitythereto.

4. in avehicle body having a window opening therein, the combination ofa window panel, a generally cylindrical guide member fixedly secured tosaid vehicle body and defining a generally vertical first window pane!motion path, a guide follower unit including a bar having first andsecond collars fixedly secured thereto, said first collar being slidableon said guide member and limitedly pivotable relative thereto about anaxis of said collar extending longitudinally of said vehicle body andsaid second collar being slidable on said guide member and limitedlybodily shiftable relative thereto transversely of said vehicle body tothereby mount said guide follower unit on said guide member for movementin said first motion path and for pivotable movement relative thereto,said bar with said guide follower unit mounted on said guide memberdefining a second window pane] motion path generally parallel to saidfirst window panel motion path, track means on said window pane]slidably receiving said bar to mount said window panel on said followerunit for unitary movement therewith and for telescoping movementrelative thereto between an extended position of said follower unitprojecting substantially beyond the lower margin of said window paneland a retracted position of said follower unit in generally flushrelationship with said lower margin, said guide member upon unitarymovement of said window panel and guide follower unit cooperating withthe latter to guide said window panel in said first motion path betweena raised position closing said window opening and a lowered positionopening said window opening, said bar upon telescoping movement of saidwindow panel relative to said guide follower unit guiding said windowpanel in said second motion path, window regulator means on said vehiclebody selectively operable to move said window panel between said raisedand said lowered positions, and stabilizing means on said vehicle bodygenerally at the lower margin of said window opening engageable withsaid window panel to prevent substantial lateral movement of that partof said window panel immediately adjacent thereto, said first collar insaid extended position of said guide follower unit and in said raisedposition of said window panel being situated substantially below saidlower window panel margin and in substantially spaced relationship tosaid stabilizing means, said window panel thereby being laterallyrestrained at two vertically spaced locations to impart lateralstability thereto.

5. In a vehicle body having a door opening, the combination of a door,means vertically hinging said door on said vehicle body for swingingmovement between a closed position closing the lower portion of saiddoor opening and an open position exposing said door opening, a windowpanel, a generally cylindrical guide member fixedly secured to said doorand defining a generally vertical first window panel motion path, aguide follower unit including a bar having first and second collarsfixedly secured thereto, said first collar being slidable on said guidemember and limitedly pivotable relative thereto about an axis of saidcollar extending longitudinally of said door and said second collarbeing slidable on said guide member and limitedly bodily shiftablerelative thereto transversely of said door to thereby mount said guidefollower unit on said guide member for movement in said first motionpath and for pivotal movement relative thereto, said bar with said guidefollower unit mounted on said guide member defining a second windowpanel motion path generally parallel to said first window panel motionpath, a track segment on said window panel slidably receiving said barto mount said window panel on said follower unit for unitary movementtherewith and for telescoping movement relative thereto between anextended position of said follower unit projecting substantially beyondthe lower margin of said window panel and a retracted position of saidfollower unit in generally flush relationship with said lower margin,said guide member upon unitary movement of said window pane] and guidefollower unit cooperating with the latter to guide said window panel insaid first motion path between a raised position closing the upperportion of said door opening in the closed position of said door and alowered position stowed within said door, said bar upon telescopingmovement of said window panel relative to said guide follower unitguiding said window panel in said second motion path, window regulatormeans on said door selectively operable to move said window panelbetween said raised and said lowered positions, and stabilizing means onsaid door generally at the belt line of said vehicle body engageablewith said window panel to prevent substantial lateral movement of thatpart of said window panel immediately adjacent thereto,

means, said window pane] thereby being laterally restrained at twovertically spaced locations to impart lateral stability thereto.

1. In a vehicle body having a window opening therein, the combination of a window panel, guide means fixedly secured to said vehicle body and defining a window panel motion path, a guide follower unit, means mounting said guide follower unit on said guide means for movement in said motion path defined thereby, means mounting said window panel on said guide follower unit for unitary movement therewith and for movement relative thereto between an extended position of said follower unit projecting substantially beyond one margin of said window panel and a retracted position of said follower unit in generally flush relationship with said one margin, said guide means upon unitary movement of said window panel and guide follower unit cooperating with the latter to guide said window panel in said motion path between a raised position closing said window opening and a lowered position opening said window opening, window regulator means on said vehicle body selectively operable to move said window panel between said raised and said lowered positions, and stabilizing means on said vehicle body generally at one margin of said window opening engageable with said window panel to prevent substantial lateral movement of that part of said window panel immediately adjacent thereto, said guide follower unit in said extended position thereof and in said raised position of said window panel projecting substantially beyond said one window margin and in substantially spaced relationship to said stabilizing means, said window panel thereby being laterally restrained at spaced locations to impart lateral stability thereto.
 2. In a vehicle body having a window opening therein, the combination of a window panel, a guide member fixedly secured to said vehicle body and defining a first window panel motion path, a guide follower unit having secondary guide means thereon, means mounting said guide follower unit on said guide member for movement in said first motion path defined thereby, said secondary guide means with said guide follower unit mounted on said guide member defining a second window panel motion path, means on said window panel engageable on said secondary guide means to mount said window panel on said follower unit for unitary movement therewith and for telescoping movement relative thereto between an extended position of said follower unit projecting substantially beyond one margin of said window panel and a retracted position of said follower unit in generally flush relationship with said one margin, said guide member upon unitary movement of said window panel and guide follower unit cooperating with the latter to guide said window panel in said first motion path between a raised position closing said window opening and a lowered position opening said window opening, said secondary guide means upon telescoping movement of said window panel relative to said guide follower unit guiding said window panel in said second motion path, window regulator means on said vehicle body selectively operable to move said window panel between said raised and said lowered positions, and stabilizing means on said vehicle body generally at one margin of said window opening engageable with said window panel to prevent substantial lateral movement of that part of said window panel immediately adjacent thereto, said guide follower unit in said extended position thereof and in said raised position of said window panel projecting substantially beyond said one window margin and in substantially spaced relationship to said stabilizing means, said window panel thereby being laterally restrained at substantially spaced locations to impart lateral stability thereto.
 3. In a vehicle body having a window opening therein, the combinatioN of a window panel, a guide member fixedly secured to said vehicle body and defining a first window panel motion path, a guide follower unit including a bar having a pair of generally axially aligned collars secured thereto, each of said collars being slidably engageable on said guide member to mount said follower unit on said guide member for movement in said first motion path, said bar with said guide follower unit mounted on said guide member defining a second window panel motion path, means on said window panel cooperable with said bar to mount said window panel on said follower unit for unitary movement therewith and for telescoping movement relative thereto between an extended position of said follower unit projecting substantially beyond the margin of said window panel and a retracted position of said follower unit in generally flush relationship with said one margin, said guide member upon unitary movement of said window panel and guide follower unit cooperating with the latter to guide said window panel in said first motion path between a raised position closing said window opening and a lowered position opening said window opening, said bar upon telescoping movement of said window panel relative to said guide follower unit guiding said window panel in said second motion path, window regulator means on said vehicle body selectively operable to move said window panel between said raised and said lowered positions, and stabilizing means on said vehicle body generally at one margin of said window opening engageable with said window panel to prevent substantial lateral movement of that part of said window panel immediately adjacent thereto, one collar of said pair of collars in said extended position of said guide follower unit and in said raised position of said window panel being situated substantially beyond said one window panel margin and in substantially spaced relationship to said stabilizing means, said window panel thereby being laterally restrained at two spaced locations to impart lateral stability thereto.
 4. In a vehicle body having a window opening therein, the combination of a window panel, a generally cylindrical guide member fixedly secured to said vehicle body and defining a generally vertical first window panel motion path, a guide follower unit including a bar having first and second collars fixedly secured thereto, said first collar being slidable on said guide member and limitedly pivotable relative thereto about an axis of said collar extending longitudinally of said vehicle body and said second collar being slidable on said guide member and limitedly bodily shiftable relative thereto transversely of said vehicle body to thereby mount said guide follower unit on said guide member for movement in said first motion path and for pivotable movement relative thereto, said bar with said guide follower unit mounted on said guide member defining a second window panel motion path generally parallel to said first window panel motion path, track means on said window panel slidably receiving said bar to mount said window panel on said follower unit for unitary movement therewith and for telescoping movement relative thereto between an extended position of said follower unit projecting substantially beyond the lower margin of said window panel and a retracted position of said follower unit in generally flush relationship with said lower margin, said guide member upon unitary movement of said window panel and guide follower unit cooperating with the latter to guide said window panel in said first motion path between a raised position closing said window opening and a lowered position opening said window opening, said bar upon telescoping movement of said window panel relative to said guide follower unit guiding said window panel in said second motion path, window regulator means on said vehicle body selectively operable to move said window panel between said raised and said lowered positions, and stabilizing means on said vehicle body generally at the lower margin of said window opening engageable with said window panel to prevent substantial lateral movement of that part of said window panel immediately adjacent thereto, said first collar in said extended position of said guide follower unit and in said raised position of said window panel being situated substantially below said lower window panel margin and in substantially spaced relationship to said stabilizing means, said window panel thereby being laterally restrained at two vertically spaced locations to impart lateral stability thereto.
 5. In a vehicle body having a door opening, the combination of a door, means vertically hinging said door on said vehicle body for swinging movement between a closed position closing the lower portion of said door opening and an open position exposing said door opening, a window panel, a generally cylindrical guide member fixedly secured to said door and defining a generally vertical first window panel motion path, a guide follower unit including a bar having first and second collars fixedly secured thereto, said first collar being slidable on said guide member and limitedly pivotable relative thereto about an axis of said collar extending longitudinally of said door and said second collar being slidable on said guide member and limitedly bodily shiftable relative thereto transversely of said door to thereby mount said guide follower unit on said guide member for movement in said first motion path and for pivotal movement relative thereto, said bar with said guide follower unit mounted on said guide member defining a second window panel motion path generally parallel to said first window panel motion path, a track segment on said window panel slidably receiving said bar to mount said window panel on said follower unit for unitary movement therewith and for telescoping movement relative thereto between an extended position of said follower unit projecting substantially beyond the lower margin of said window panel and a retracted position of said follower unit in generally flush relationship with said lower margin, said guide member upon unitary movement of said window panel and guide follower unit cooperating with the latter to guide said window panel in said first motion path between a raised position closing the upper portion of said door opening in the closed position of said door and a lowered position stowed within said door, said bar upon telescoping movement of said window panel relative to said guide follower unit guiding said window panel in said second motion path, window regulator means on said door selectively operable to move said window panel between said raised and said lowered positions, and stabilizing means on said door generally at the belt line of said vehicle body engageable with said window panel to prevent substantial lateral movement of that part of said window panel immediately adjacent thereto, said first collar in said extended position of said guide follower unit and in said raised position of said window panel being situated substantially below said lower window panel margin and in substantially spaced relationship to said stabilizing means, said window panel thereby being laterally restrained at two vertically spaced locations to impart lateral stability thereto. 